Ignition system



\, A. C. DE LORME.

IGNITION SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED MT. 29. 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

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A TTORNE! A. C. DE LORME.

IGNITION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION men ocr. 29. 1917.

1,361,314. Patented Dem, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

uvmv m AZF/FA'D C. D; 10/3145 ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED C. DE LORME, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO SPLI'IDORF ELECTRICAL COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

IGNITION SYSTEM.

Application filed October 29, 1917.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED C. DE LoRME, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ignition Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the method of firing the fuel charges in an internal conibustion engine, particularly of the multicylinder type. The system which wlll be described herein relates to the method of firing an eight cylinder V-engine in which the angIe between the cylinders is 45 de grees.

An application filed by Carl T. Mason and lVilliam J. Hart, on October 16, 1917, Serial No. 196,804, describes the special arrangements which must be adopted to fire an engine of this character and sets forth means for accomplishing the result. My invention is directed to improvements of certain details of the above mentioned application and hence much of the descriptive matter thcreof will be found in this appli cation in order to make the same clearly understood, but no claim is made for the broad invention set forth in the above mentioned application.

In an eight cylinder engine of the four cycle type four ignition sparks are required for each revolution of the crank shaft or one spark for every 90 degrees of rotation of the said shaft. The ordinary two pole type of magneto delivers two sparks substantially symmetrical for each revolution of the armature or rotor; hence to get four sparks the magneto would have to be driven at twice crank shaft speed. It is at once seen that these sparks occur for every 90 degrees of rotation of the crank shaft and in order to use a magneto to fire multi-cylinder engines, for example an eight cylinder one, it has been customary, in the past, to place the cylinders at an angle of 90 degrecs. Where the cylinders are placed at an angle of 45 degrees it becomes evident that the sparks must be delivered at intervals of 45 and 135 degrees of crank shaft rotation and it is at once seen that the ordinary magneto or ignition system cannot be utilized. In the said Mason-Hart appli' cation the problem was solved in a unique manner by using a magneto of the Dixie Specification of Letters Patent.

degrees.

Patented Dec. 7, 1920. Serial No. 199,135.

type, as set forth in Patent 1,226,233, issued May 15, 1917, to Charles T. Mason, wherein there is an adjustable field structure carrying the high tension coil having the usual primary and secondary windings and a rotor operating in connection with the field structure which is capable of producing four current impulses in the ignition coil for each rotation of the rotor, all of which will be hereinafter referred to, and by utilizing a cam on the rotor of such a construction that it acts on the movable arm of the circuit breaker at intervals of 90 and 270 degrees of angular rotation of the magneto rotor. Since the rotor as above described is capable of producing four impulses per revolution it will be seen that the cam will act to suppress two of the current impulses which the rotor is capable of generating and utilizes the other two at unequal intervals, that is, 90 and 270 degrees of rotation of the rotor. By driving the rotor at twice the speed of the engine crank shaft the necessary four sparks are produced but asymmetrically spaced 90 and 270 degrees of angularity of the rotor but since this runs twice engine crank shaft speed the angularity referred thereto will be 45 and 135 Hence substantially symmetrical sparks are produced but in asymmetrical periods of time.

After the sparks are generated, as above described, they must be delivered to the various engine cylinders in the proper order. In the said Mason-Hart application the contact segments in the distributor block are arranged in such angular order that two sparks follow each other at intervals of 22-; degrees of rotation of the distributing finger followed by an interval of 67% degrees, the contacts in the block being spaced according to these angles from which it is seen that the distributor block must be made relatively large in order to give sufficient space between the two contacts that are 22%} degrees apart so that the distributer brush carried by the distributer finger will not leave a track between the said two contacts sufficient to cause the spark to jump from one to the other.

My invention is directed more particularly to improvements in the distribution part of the system rather than to the generating part. In fact, I have used the same generating device as shown in the said Mason-Hart application. In addition to the distributing means for the service magneto, I have shown a source of starting ignition current which is required for starting large engines on compression as set forth in the said Mason-Hart application and which will not be described at length herein.

In my application Serial No. 199,134, filed October 29, 1917, I have shown a double ended distributer finger which delivers the sparking current to alternate contacts in two groups, so that the brushes pass over certain contacts without however delivering any current as this is controlled by the circuit breaker. This makes it somewhat confusing to keep the firing order of the block in mind and my present invention is directed to means for overcoming the above objection by having the sparking current delivered to the contacts in succession.

In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a magneto suitable for the purpose, having a portion broken away to show the rotor.

2 is a diagrammatic view of my ignition system.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of my distributing device but having a portion broken away to show the distributing member.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line l4 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the details, in which like numbers refer to corresponding parts in the various views, 1 illustrates a magneto of the Dixie type having a rotor with four lobes 2, 3 and e of which are clearly seen. The other lobe being directly behind 4 is not visible. Field structure 5 carries a high tension coil 6 having primary winding P and secondary winding S. On the end of the rotor and inclosed within the breaker boX cover 7 is a circuit breaker shown somewhat diagrammatically in Fig. 2. One end of the primary winding P is connected to an adjustable contact 8 which cooperates with the movable contact 9 on the breaker arm 10 which is grounded at G. The condenser 11 is connected across the breaker points 8 and 9. A cam 12 is attached to the breaker end of the rotor and as shown in Fig. 2 is about to open the contacts 8 and 9 at the point 13. After the bumper 14 has passed over the point 13, the breaker arm closes the contacts 8 and 9 and when the point 15 is reached by bumper 1 1 the contacts 8 and 9 are again opened and held open until the point 16 is reached, which is preferably about 180 degrees from the point 15, which in turn is approximately degrees from the point 13. The angular distance from 16 to 13 is made suflicient to allow the magnetic flux time to build up through the core of the coil so that the distance from 15 to 16 may be made more or less than 180 degrees but preferably more.

arrangement \Vhile the cam 12 has been acting on the breaker arm 10 in the manner described, the rotor has made one complete revolution and on account of the four lobes would have produced four magnetic impulses through the coil 6 had the primary circuit P not been held open in the manner described. It has been found that the holding open of the primary for this period of time is advantageous in that it gives the iron in the magnetic circuit an opportunity to rest, or recuperate, as it were, by removing the effects of the coil windings on the iron and even though the rotor is driven at twice engine crank shaft speed the two sparks delivered for one revolution of the rotor will stay in at speeds of the rotor greatly in excess of that required. That is to say, the two sparks delivered as above described will stay in at a much higher speed of the rotor than they would if the rotor were producing four sparks from the coil of which it is capable. Hence an apparent disadvantage, that is, running the magneto at twice crank shaft speed, has been turned into a real advantage.

Inasmuch as the principles of operation of the Dixie magneto have been described in numerous patents to Charles T. Mason, one of which is 1,226,233, issued May 15, 1917, further description of the magneto does not appear necessary to make my invention clear to one skilled in the art.

I will now describe my method of distributing the sparking current produced by the magneto. The secondary S of the coil 6 is adapted to be brought out of the insulating terminal 17 and it is then connected to the binding post 18 on a member of the distributing device having as an element a block 19. Mounted on the interior of the block 19, preferably molded therein, is an annular ring 20 to which the binding post 18 is securely connected as shown in Fig. at. 21 is a distributing finger having a hub 22 projecting into a holder 23 to which the finger 21 is securely fastened in any suit able manner, such as by cap 24 attached to the end of the holder 23. Fastened to the rim of the holder 23, in any suitable manner such as by bolts 25, is a gear wheel 26 which is adapted to mesh with another gear driven by some portion of the engine. It will be understood that this gear ratio such that the distributing finger is driven at one-fourth of the speed of the rotor of the magneto. The distributer block 19 is adapted to be fastened to some portion of the engine frame 27 by suitable studs and nuts 28. Finger 21 is designed to carry two brush holders 29 and 30 in which brushes 31 and 32 are held in working position by springs 33 and 34;. The brushes 31 and 32 are placed adjacent to each other in the finger 21 at an angle of degrees, for a purpose which will be later described. Directly below the brush holders 29 and 30 and electrically connected thereto is another brush. holder 35 carrying a brush 36 which is held in contact with the annular ring 20 by a spring (not shown).

Circumferentially mounted Within the in-- nor part of the rim of block 19 is a series of contacts 38-39-404142-4344 and 45 equally spaced 45 degrees from each other and numbered according to the order in which ignition current is conveyed to them by the distributing finger. Wires run from the terminals 38 to 45 inclusive to spark plugs located in the cylinders according to the proper firing order. In the diagrammatical view shown in Fig. 2 no attempt is made to show the firing order of the engine. By referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that service ignition current will be carried by brush 31 to contact 38 and thence to the proper spark plug. While the brush 31 is on the contact 38, brush 32 is half way between contacts 38 and 39. It now being understood that the distributing finger travels one half engine crank shaft speed, the next spark will be required at an angular distance of 22% degrees of the distributing finger which means that when brush 32 reaches the contact 39 the next spark will be produced at the plug connected to contact 39. The next spark required is at an angle of 671} degrees and since when the brush 32 is on the contact 39, brush 31 has moved forward 22% degrees from contact 38, consequently the brush 38 when moved to contact 40 will give the required number of degrees, namely 67%, and the brush 32 will be half way between contacts 40 and 41 so the next interval of 22% degrees will bring the brush 32 in circuit with contact 41 and so on.

It will be seen that starting with contact 38 as the beginning the sparking current is conveyed to successive contacts in the block and while the contacts in the block are equally spaced yet the arrangement of the distributing brushes on the distributing finger is such as to produce the required result when these brushes engage the contacts as above described. By the arrangement set forth above, I am enabled to secure greater spacing between the distributei block contacts and hence reduce the chances for trouble of the distributer brushes leaving a track across from one contact to the other.

As to the starting magneto, this may be of any construction, having a primary winding 10 and secondary winding .9 and a breaker arm 46 adapted to be acted on by cam 47. One end of the secondary is grounded in the usual manner and the other end is connected to terminal 48 on the distributerl block 19. Finger 21 carries a brush holder 49 within which a brush 50 contacts with the inner end of terminal 48 being held in operative position by spring 51. Brush holder 49 has a contact rod 52 connected thereto and embedded in the insulating portion of finger 21, preferably being molded therein. The outer end 53 of rod 52 terminates in a point in close proximity to the contact terminals 38 to 45 inclusive so that when the engine is in a position to be started on compression the point 53 is opposite the terminal connected to the plug that is in position to fire the charge in the engine cylinder. On turning the crank of the auxiliary magneto rapidly a spark is generated which jumps across the point 53 to the terminal above mentioned. The spark thus produced in the engine cylinder starts the engine forward and immediately the main magneto picks it up and further cranking of the auxiliary magneto is not required. The starting spark is shown of the jumptype but a wipe spark contact as used in the main magneto circuit might be used, but the use of the jump-spark contact eliminates brush wear.

While I have shown the starting device in the form of a magneto a battery and coil or its equivalent may be used and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes and alterations maybe made in the details of the parts entered into the system without departing from the spirit of my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In an ignition system, a generator having an exciting field, a generating winding, and a rotor with a plurality of members each adapted to vary the flux from the held through the winding during each rotation of the rotor, whereby a plurality of symmetrically varying E. M. F. and current waves can be produced for each rotation, in combination with a distributing device consisting of a block having contacts equally spaced apart and a member geared in synchronism with the rotor and provided with means including a pair of brushes set at an angle proportional to the interval between said waves to distribute said currents in asymmetrical intervals and successively to said contacts when said current and E. M. F. waves are at a maximum and during the successive rotations of the rotor and the distributing member.

2. In an ignition system, a generator-having an exciting field, a generating winding, and a rotor with a plurality of members each adapted to vary the flux from the field through the winding through each rotation of the rotor, whereby a plurality of sym metrically varying E. M. F. and current Waves can be produced for each rotation, in

combination with a distributing dei'icc consisting of a bhck having contacts equally spacul apart and a member geared in synchronisni with the rotor and provided with means including a pair of brushes set at an angle proportional to the interval betw (":1 said waves to distribute said current in asynnnetrical intervals and successively to said contacts when said current and E. M. F. waves are at a maximum and during the successive rotations of the rotor and the distributing member, together with a circuit breaker also driven with the rotor and adapted to produce a plurality of breaks and thereby a plurality of discharges from the winding through the distributor, at predetermined points on the several E. M. F. waves, for each rotation oi the rotor, and means for varying the time of the breaks rel atively to their respective E. M. F. waves.

In an ignition system. a generator apted to produce tour E. M. F. and ourent waves for each rotation of its rotor, a distril uting device consisting of a block and rotary distributing member and a circuit breaker driven with the rotor, the block carrying a plurality of symmetrically arranged distributing terminals, said distributing member constituting means including a pair of brushes set at an angle proportional to the interval between said i '2 ves for distributing the current waves or impulses among the terminals in asymmetrical intervals, said circuit brealrer adapted to break at asymmetrical periods and thereby cause discharges at asymmetrical periods due to the said E. M. F. waves through the circuits successively established by the distributing member.

In an ignition system, generator adapted to produce four E. M. F. and currentwaves for each rotation of its rotor, a circuit br alrcr adapted to asymmetrically produce one half of the corresponding plurality of breaks and discharges for each rotation of the rotor, and a distril uting device consisting of a stationary block carrying contacts equally spaced and a distributing member carrying two brushes spaced apart a distance proportional to the periods of asymmetrical discharges produced by the circuit breaker and driven so as to distribute the corresponding discharges to successive contacts in the block.

In system of the class described, means for ge .erating and distributing current im ulses into a plurality 01" distribution circuits such as the sparking circuits of a multi-cylinder engine, comprising a field, a generating coil, and a rotor rotating in said field and adapted to produce in said coil tour impulses per revolution, and a distributing member carrying two brushes on the same side of the center of rota ion and spaced apart a distance proportional to said current impulses and electrically connected to the coil anl mechanically connected to synchronously operate with the rotor through reducing gears, whereby said rotor will make a plurality of revolutions for each single revolution of the distributing member, means carried by said rotor for selecting for use at asymmetrical periods two of the tour impulses capable of being generated by said rotor, a bi.0('1 and a number oi? distribution terminals therein equally spaced and equal to the whole number oi circuits to be served, with means including said distributing member and brushes to connect said coil successively to acli one of said terminals (luring each revolution of the distributing member.

(3. In a system the class described, means for generating and distributing current impulses into a plurality of distribution circuits such as the sparking circuits of a multi-cylinder engine, comprising a licld, a gene ating coil, and a rotor rotating in said field and adapted to produce in said coil tour impi lses 1 per revolution, and a distributing member e ectrically connected to the coil and inechanica connect d to synchronously operate with the rotor through reducing gears, l mane a plurality of iereby said rotor will revolutions for each single revolution of the distributin member, a bloclr having a numl of distribution terminals therein symmetrically spaced and equal to the whole number of circuits to be served, with means including the distributing member carrying two brushes spaced apart a distance equal me half the distai'lce between said block crininals to connect from alternate brushes d coil successively to each one of said ermiuals during each revolution of the disributing member, together Tltll an interru iter driven with the rotor a id adapted to render the discharge circuit from the coil ativc at unequal inte'vals at a predenin d pointon the E. M. F. and current wave oi only two impulses, said other two being suppressed.

7. In an .lQ'lliiT'Oll l ynaino tor multi-circuit J'sl 3 F 3 M i (ilutll iliclOll .1 ttcl, (l ghlleldlull L012, 22, 10- tor having two clean 5 with plurality ot arms whci snondn plurality ot current rev v be produced l A 111 ch each mean only a irt in number versals w iicii may be procuredcvice consisting of a 1 member, saie block carryi i tacts equally sp -red apart. tary member having two brushes on one end spaced apart distance .{lllfil to one halt the nauli distance between said block contacts and serving as means lor receiving the asynchronous current impulses and delivering them from alternate brushes in succession among the distribution terminal contacts.

of the rotor, oiious periods e coil s f r utilizing 8. In an ignition system for eight cylinder 45 degree four cycle internal combustion engines, a generator adapted to be driven at twice engine crank shaft speed and having a source of magnetic flux, a generating coil, a rotating element adapted to direct the flux through said coil in combination with means to produce two current impulses spaced &5

and 135 degrees apart when referred to said other and in electrical contact with the first for contacting with said block terminals at intervals of 22'}- degrees as the finger rotates as described.

9. In an ignition system for eight cylinder degree four cycle internal combustion en gines, a generator adapted to be driven at twice engine crank shaft speed and having a source of magnetic flux, a generating coil, a rotating element adapted to direct the flux through said coil in combination with means to produce two current impulses spaced 415 and 135 degrees apart when referred to said engine crank shaft, distributing device having as an element a distributer block adapted to be attached to said engine and having terminals equally spaced 45 degrees apart with means for connection to sparking devices in said engine cylinders, a single ended distributer finger associated with said block and means for carrying and driving said finger at one half engine crank shaft speed, a pair of brushes carried in the end of said finger forcontacting with said block terminals as the finger rotates, said brushes being spaced 221,- degrecs from each other, a terminal n. said bldck electrically connected to both said brushes and adapted to be connected to the generating coil.

10. In an ignition system for eight cylinder 45 degree four cycle internal combustion engines, a generator adapted to be driven at twice engine crank shaft speed and having a source of magnetic flux, a generating coil, a rotating element adapted, to direct the flux through said coil in combination with means to produce two current impulses spaced 45 and 135 degrees apart when referred to said engine crank shaft, a distributing block adapted to be attached to said engine and having terminals equally spaced 45 degrees apart with means for connection to sparking devices in said engine cylinders, a single ended distributer finger inside said block and having a hub projecting rearwardly from said blOCK, a carrier to take said hub, a gear driven by said engine at one half crank shaft speed and having said carrier fastened thereto, an annular ring set in the face of said distributer block with means for connecting a terminal of the generating coil thereto, a brush carried by said finger in running contact with said ring and a pair of brushes in the end of said finger electrically connected together and also to the first brush for contact with said block terminals as the finger rotates, said pair of brushes being displaced degrees from each other, an auxiliary ignition generator, a terminal on said block adapted to be connected to said generator, a brush associated with the distributing finger in running contact with the last mentioned terminal, a distributing contact connected to the last mentioned brush and adapted to conduct sparking current to said distributer block terminals when said auxiliary generator is operated in the manner described.

11. In an ignition system for eight cylinder 45 degree four cycle internal combustion engines, a generator adapted to be driven at twice engine crank shaft speed and having a source of magnetic flux, a generating coil, a rotating element adapted to direct the flux through said coil in combination with means to produce two current impulses spaced 45 and 135 degrees apart when referred to said engine crank shaft, a distributer block adapted to be attached to said engine and having terminals equally spaced 15 degrees apart with means for connection to sparking devices in said engine cylinders; a single ended distributing finger inside said block geared to be driven by said engine at one half crank shaf speed, an annular ring in said distributer block, means for connecting a tel-mi al of the generating coil thereo, a brush carried by said finger in running contact with said ring and a pair of brushes in electrical. contact with the first mentioned brush for contacting with said block terminals as the finger rotates, said pair of brushes being spaced 22*} degrees from each other, an auxiliary ignition generator, a terminal of said block adapted to be connect ed to said generator, a brush associated with the distributing finger in running contact with the last mentioned terminal, a contact connected to the last mentioned brush and adapted to conduct sparking current to said distribnter block terminals when said auxiliary generator is operated in the manner described.

12, The combination with an eight cylinder 45 degree four cycle internal combustion engine and a sparking device constructed to deliver four current impulses when driven at twice engine crank shaft speed, of a distributing mechanism comprising a rotating finger geared to rotate at one fourth of the speed of the rotating element of the sparking device and a distributer block having a series of eight contacts arranged around the periphery of said block at equal angular intervals of degrees, with means for conve ing the sparking device current impulses to the distributing finger, said finger carrying a pair of brushes set 22-1- degrees away from each other whereby aid brushes convey the current impulses to the said contacts in the distributer block connected to the various engine cylinders in their proper firing order uting device consisting of a block having contacts equally spaced apart and in number corresponding to the number of engine cylinders and a distributing member driven at half engine crank shaft speed with current conecting means to said generator, said member carrying brushes arranged one in advance of the other an amount equal to one half the space between said block contacts so as to deliver the sparking current to said contacts at intervals of 221- and 67 degrees of rotation of the said member, with means for starting said engine consisting of an auxiliary source of current, a sparking contact carried by said distributing member in retarded position from one of said brushes and means for connecting said starting current to said starting contact as described.

In witness whereof, I afiix my signature.

ALFRED C DE LORME.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,361,314, granted December 7, 1920, upon the application of Alfred C. De Lorme, of East Orange, New Jersey,

for an improvement in Ignition Systems, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 6, line 16, claim 12, for the Word to read and; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of January, A. D., 1921.

[SEAL] L. B. MANN,

Acting (Jammtssioner of Patents.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,361,314, granted December 7, 1920, upon the application of Alfred C. De Lorme, of East Orange, New Jersey, for an improvement in Ignition Systems, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 6, line 16, claim 12, for the Word to read and; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of January, A. D., 1921.

[SEAL] L. B. MANN,

Acting Comm'issz'oner of Patents. Cl. 123-448. 

